Alberto Ruiz named winner of Roland Gomez Optimist Club scholarship for 2018

Alberto Ruiz is the recipient of the Miami Lakes Optimist Club’s Roland Gomez Scholarship, which is awarded to one boy and one girl annually for their contributions and participation to the organization and at school for community service.
Ruiz earned his Associate’s degree from Miami Dade College before he graduated from Mater Academy High School. He finished high school with a 5.0 GPA and is currently studying world recreation physical therapy at Florida International University.
Ruiz, 19, said he was very happy when he learned he won the Roland Gomez Scholarship Award for $1,000 to use for college expenses.
“I was really happy because the first time I finished third and the last time I finished second in the contest,” said Ruiz. “So, I was really hoping to win it this time around.”
Ruiz played basketball at the Optimist Club and Mater Academy. He said the Miami Lakes organization played a key role in his life as a student and an athlete.
“It gave me a lot of experience where I met a lot of people,” he said. “I’m going to miss going there. The Optimist Club symbolized my childhood.”
Ruiz said he may return to the organization and give back to the people who helped him. “I may coach my brother’s basketball team,” he said.
Jim Hamilton, a longtime member of the Miami Lakes Optimist Club, said Ruiz leads by example. “He’s an outstanding young man who actually graduated from college before graduating from high school,” he said. “Unbelievable commitment and work ethic.”